Stepping up One Health

The ‘One Health’ approach, an interconnected approach to health that recognises the interdependence of people, animals, plants and ecosystems, is gaining track in Europe. Today, 13 November, the European Commission organizes a conference to discuss the future of the ‘One Health’ policy in Europe. Several EU Agencies have also expressed their joint commitment to fully support the 'One Health' agenda to better prevent, detect, prepare for and respond to global health threats at global and EU levels, including those related to climate change.

Europe is facing increasingly complex and frequent threats to health and well-being. Many of these threats are linked to unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, and they serve as a stark reminder that human health is strictly interconnected with the health of animals, plants and ecosystems. No individual discipline or sector acting in isolation can respond to these threats. The urgent need for multisectoral and transdisciplinary collaboration across the domains of human, animal, plant and ecosystem health is captured by the One Health approach.

The 'One Health for All, All for One Health’ conference is webstreamed and can be followed on 13 November here.

The joint statement of  the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), European Environment Agency (EEA), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) can be consulted here.